Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums Notice of Funding Opportunity 2015

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A. Program Description

B. Federal Award Information

C. Eligibility Information

D. Application andSubmission Information

E. Application ReviewProcess

F. Award AdministrationInformation

G. Contacts

H. Other Information

Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums – FY15 Notice of Funding Opportunity

Federal Awarding Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services

Funding Opportunity Title: Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums

Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Number: Sparks-Museums-FY15

Catalog of Federal FinancialAssistance (CFDA) Number: 45.312

Due Date: Submit through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. U.S. EasternTime on December 1, 2014

Anticipated Date of Notification ofAward Decisions:

July 2015 (subject to the availability of funds and IMLSdiscretion)

Beginning Date of Period ofPerformance: No earlier than August 1, 2015

Equal Opportunity

IMLS-funded programs do not discriminate on the basis of race, color,national origin, sex, disability, or age. For further information, write tothe Civil Rights Officer, Institute of Museum and Library Services,1800 M Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20036-5802.

A. Program Description

What are Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums (SparksGrants)?

The Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums program is a special fundingopportunity within the IMLS National Leadership Grants for Museumsprogram. These small grants encourage museums to prototype andevaluate specific innovations in the ways they operate and theservices they provide. Project results – be they success, failure, or acombination thereof – should offer valuable information to themuseum field and the potential for improvement in the ways museumsserve their communities.

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Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums Notice of Funding Opportunity 2015

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What are the characteristics of successful Sparks Grants projects?

Broad Impact: Your project should show the potential for far-reaching impact beyond yourinstitution, and influence practice across one or more disciplines or specific fields within themuseum profession.In-depth Knowledge: Your project should reflect a thorough understanding of current practice andknowledge about the subject matter and an awareness and support of current strategic initiativesand agendas in the field.Innovative Approach: Your project should employ new approaches to strengthen and improveservices to benefit the audiences and communities being served.Shared Results: Your project should generate results that can be widely used, adapted, scaled, orreplicated to leverage the benefits of federal investment. Grantees are required to submit a shortwhite paper to be publicly posted and shared with the field.

The mission of the Institute of Museum and Library Services is to inspire libraries and museums to advanceinnovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. We provide leadership through research,policy development, and grant making.

U.S. museums and libraries are at the forefront in the movement to create a nation of learners. As stewardsof cultural and natural heritage with rich, authentic content, libraries and museums provide learningexperiences for everyone. In FY2015, each Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums award should support oneof the following three goals of the IMLS strategic plan for 2012-2016, Creating a Nation of Learners:

1. IMLS places the learner at the center and supports engaging experiences in libraries and museumsthat prepare people to be full participants in their local communities and our global society.

2. IMLS promotes museums and libraries as strong community anchors that enhance civicengagement, cultural opportunities, and economic vitality.

3. IMLS supports exemplary stewardship of museum and library collections and promotes the use oftechnology to facilitate discovery of knowledge and cultural heritage.

The goals focus on achieving positive public outcomes for communities and individuals; supporting theunique role of museums and libraries in preserving and providing access to collections and content; andpromoting library, museum, and information service policies that ensure access to information for allAmericans.

What are the IMLS funding priorities?

There are no funding priorities in the Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums program for this funding cycle.

How much money can my institution apply for?

Sparks Grants range from $10,000 to $25,000, subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion.

What are the project categories and what kinds of projects may be funded within theSparks Grants program?

There are no specific project categories within the Sparks Grants program, though applicants should aligntheir proposals with one of the three IMLS strategic goals cited above. Project may include, but are notlimited to, the following activities:

Rapid prototyping and testing of new ways to engage learnersOffering innovative new types of services or new service optionsExploring the potential of highly original, experimental collaborationsImplementing new workflows or processes with potential for substantial cost savingsAddressing community challenges through new types of partnerships, services, processes, orpracticesDeveloping and testing new tools or services that facilitate access, presentation, management,preservation, sharing, or use of museum collections

Click here for samples of recently funded Sparks Grants.

Where can I find additional examples of projects funded by Sparks Grants?

Click here to search awarded grants by program, category, and/or key word.

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Where can I find the Authorizing Statute and Regulations for this Funding Opportunity?

Statute: 220 U.S.C. 9101 et seq., in particular, §9162, and §9171et seq. (Museum Services). Regulations: 45 CFR Parts 1180–1183, and applicable OMB Circulars and regulations.

Please Note: The recent Office of Management and Budget (OMB) final guidance on UniformAdministrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Grant Reform)has streamlined and consolidated grant requirements. The Grant Reform can be found at 2 CFR Part 200.Federal grant making agencies, including IMLS, are to formally adopt in whole or in part the Grant Reformby December 26, 2014.

The Grant Reform will be effective for all awards made after December 26, 2014. While the IMLSregulations listed above are current as of the date of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (September 2014),you will be required to follow those regulations that will be in effect at the time of award. For this reason,you are encouraged to become familiar with the Grant Reform.

B. Federal Award Information

Total amount of funding expected to be awarded $143,000

Anticipated number of awards 6

Range of awards $10,000-25,000

Average amount of funding per award $23,900

Type of assistance instrument Grant

Anticipated period of performance August 2015-September 2016. Project activitiessupported by Sparks Grants may generally becarried out for up to one year.

Anticipated start date: Not earlier than August 1, 2015. Projects mustbegin on August 1, September 1, or October 1,2015.

The funding in the above Federal Award Information is subject to the availability of funds and IMLSdiscretion.

C. Eligibility Information

Is my organization eligible for an award under the FY2015 Sparks! Ignition Grants forMuseums program?

To be eligible for an award under the Sparks Grants program, you must be an organization that meets allthree of the following criteria:

1. You must be either a unit of State or local government or be a private nonprofit organization thathas tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code;

2. You must be located in one of the 50 States of the United States of America, the District ofColumbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, theCommonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the FederatedStates of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau; and

3. You must qualify as one of the following:

a. A museum that, using a professional staff, is organized on a permanent basis for essentiallyeducational or aesthetic purposes; owns or uses tangible objects, either animate or

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inanimate; cares for these objects; and exhibits these objects to the general public on aregular basis through facilities that it owns or operates.

What types of institutions are included in the term “museum”? If they otherwise meet these requirements, including the criteria in (3)(a) above,museums include, but are not limited to, aquariums, arboretums, art museums,botanical gardens, children’s/youth museums, general museums (those having two ormore significant disciplines), historic houses/sites, history museums, naturalhistory/anthropology museums, nature centers, planetariums, science/technologycenters, specialized museums (limited to a single distinct subject), and zoologicalparks.

What does it mean to be using a professional staff? An institution uses a professional staff if it employs at least one staff member, or thefull-time equivalent, whether paid or unpaid, primarily engaged in the acquisition,care, or exhibition to the public of objects owned or used by the institution.

What does it mean to exhibit the objects to the general public? An institution exhibits objects to the general public if such exhibition is a primarypurpose of the institution. An institution that exhibits objects to the general public forat least 120 days a year is deemed to exhibit objects to the general public on aregular basis.

An institution which does not have the exhibition of objects as a primary purposeand/or does not exhibit objects to the public for at least 120 days a year may bedetermined to be eligible as a museum under certain circumstances. For moreinformation, please see 45 CFR §1180.2(d).

b. An organization or association that engages in activities designed to advance the well-beingof museums and the museum profession;

c. An institution of higher education, including public and nonprofit universities; or

d. public or private nonprofit agency which is responsible for the operation of a museum thatmeets the eligibility criteria in (a) above may apply on behalf of the museum.

If my museum is located within a parent organization, can my museum apply on itsown?

A museum located within a parent organization that is a state or local government or multipurpose nonprofitentity, such as a municipality, university, historical society, foundation, or cultural center, may apply on itsown behalf if the museum

is able to independently fulfill all the eligibility requirements listed in the above three criteria;functions as a discrete unit within the parent organization;has its own fully segregated and itemized operating budget; andhas the authority to make the application on its own.

When any of the last three conditions cannot be met, a museum may only apply through its parentorganization.

Is a nonprofit organization eligible if it is affiliated with a museum?

IMLS may determine that a nonprofit organization that is affiliated with a museum is eligible for this programwhere the organization can demonstrate that it has the ability to administer the project and can ensurecompliance with the terms of these guidelines and the applicable law, including the Assurances andCertifications. The applicant organization must submit an agreement from the museum that details theactivities that the applicant and museum will perform and binds the museum to the statements andassurances made in the grant application.

What are the requirements for cost sharing?

There are no matching or cost share requirements for Sparks Grants.

How many applications can we submit to this program?

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There is no limit on the number of applications your organization may submit to this program for FY2015.

What if I fail to meet the eligibility requirements?

We will not review or make awards to ineligible applicants. In order to receive an IMLS grant award, youmust be eligible, and in compliance and good standing on all active IMLS grants.

D. Application and Submission Information

How can I find the application package?

Use one of the following identifiers to locate the Sparks Grants package in Grants.gov:

CFDA Number: 45.312Funding Opportunity Number: Sparks-Museums-FY15

We require all applicants to apply through Grants.gov. Please note that the entire completedapplication must be submitted online through Grants.gov.

Click here to learn more about Grants.gov.

You must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting your application package. The multi-step registrationprocess generally cannot be completed in a single day. If you are not already registered, you should allowat least two weeks for completing this one-time process. Do not wait until the day of theapplication deadline to register.

Click here to learn more about Grants.gov Registration and Tips for Using Grants.gov.

You do not need to complete the registration process to download the application package and begin toprepare your material. However, you will need your Grants.gov User ID and password that you obtainduring the registration process to submit your application when it is complete.

Can I request an audio recording of this publication?

Upon request, we will provide an audio recording of this publication. Use Teletype (TTY/TDD) (forpersons with hearing difficulty): 202-653-4614.

Can I request this publication in another form?

If needed because of difficulty using the Internet or for other accessibility reasons, you may also requestpaper copies of the materials. We are available by phone at 202-653-4789.

What documents are required to make a complete application?

The Table of Application Components below will help you prepare a complete application. You will find linksto more information and instructions for completing each application component in the table. Applicationsmissing any Required Documents or Conditionally Required Documents from this list will be consideredincomplete and will be rejected from further consideration.

How should the application components be formatted, named, and sequenced?

Document format: Aside from the first document listed below, which is completed in Grants.gov,all application components must be submitted as PDF documents.Page limits: Note page limits listed below. We will remove any pages above the limit, and we willnot send them to reviewers as part of your application.Naming convention: Use the naming conventions indicated in the table. IMPORTANT: Youare limited to using the following characters in all attachment file names: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore(_), hyphen (-), space, period. If you use any other characters when naming your attachment files,your application will be rejected by Grants.gov.Document order: In Grants.gov, append all application components in the sequence listedbelow. Use all available spaces in the "Mandatory Documents for Submission" box first. Append anyremaining application components using the "Optional Documents for Submission" box.Complete applications: Use the table below as a checklist to ensure that you have created andattached all necessary application components.

Any document you create must be converted to PDF format before submitting it. Click here for assistancein converting documents to PDF. Do not send secured or password-protected PDFs; we cannot process

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these files.

Note that IMLS does not permit the authorized representative to be the same personas the project director on the SF-424S.

Table of Application Components

ComponentFormat File name to use

Required Documents

The Application for Federal Assistance/Short OrganizationalForm (SF-424S)

Grants.govform

n/a

Abstract (one page, max.) PDFdocument

Abstract.pdf

IMLS Program Information Sheet IMLS PDFform

Programinfo.pdf

Organizational Profile (one page, max.) PDFdocument

Organizationalprofile.pdf

Narrative (six pages, max.) PDFdocument

Narrative.pdf

Schedule of Completion (one page per year, max.) PDFdocument

Scheduleofcompletion.pdf

IMLS Budget Form IMLS PDFform

Budget.pdf

Budget Justification PDFdocument

Budgetjustification.pdf

List of Key Project Staff and Consultants (one page, max.) PDFdocument

Projectstaff.pdf

Resumes of Key Project Staff and Consultants that appear onthe list above (two pages each, max.)

PDFdocument

Resumes.pdf

Conditionally Required Documents

Proof of Nonprofit Status PDFdocument

Proofnonprofit.pdf

Supporting Documents

Information that supplements the narrative and supports theproject description provided in the application

PDFdocument

Supportingdoc1.pdfSupportingdoc2.pdfSupportingdoc3.pdfetc.

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Digital Stewardship Supplementary Information Form IMLS PDFform

Digitalstewardship.pdf

Required Documents

Abstract

A project abstract must be no more than one page and address the following:

Who is the lead applicant and, if applicable, who are the partners?What need, problem, or challenge will your project address and how was it identified?What activities will you carry out and in what time frame?How does your project benefit the museum field?What are your project’s intended outcomes?How will you measure your success in achieving your intended outcomes?

This abstract may be used for public information purposes, so it should be informative to other peopleworking in the same or related fields, as well as to the lay reader. The abstract must not include anyproprietary or confidential information.

IMLS Program Information Sheet

Download IMLS Program Information Sheet: Adobe® PDF (318 KB)

1. Applicant Information:

a. Legal Name: From 5a on the SF424S.b. Applicant D-U-N-S® Number: From 5f on the SF424S.c. Check Yes or No and provide expiration date, if you check the Yes box. Please note that, before

submitting an application, your organization must have a current SAM.gov registration.d. Organizational Unit: If you cannot apply for grants on your own behalf, then enter your

organizational unit’s name and address in these spaces. For example, if your museum is part of aparent organization, such as a university, then enter the name of the university under LegalName, and the name of the museum as the Organizational Unit.

e. Organizational Unit Address: Be sure to include the four-digit extension on the ZIP code.f. Organizational Unit Type: Select the one that most accurately describes your organization.

2. Organizational Financial Information: a-d. All applicants must provide the informationrequested. If you named an organizational unit under 1d, this financial information must pertain to that unit.

3. Grant Program Information: Check the Museum box under d. Sparks! Ignition Grants

4. Check this box if your project addresses STEM learning. We invite applicants to addressSTEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) in their programs and projects in order to advancelearning and support the acquisition of STEM knowledge at all ages, but particularly for at-risk youth. Clickhere to learn more about IMLS’s role in STEM initiatives.

5. Funding Request Information:

a. IMLS Funds Requested: Enter the amount in dollars sought from IMLS.b. Cost Share Amount: Enter the amount of non-federal funding you are providing, if any. Click here to

learn more about cost share. Note: Cost sharing is not required for Sparks Grants.

6. Project Subject Area: Check the boxes that reflect the subject areas to be addressed by yourproject.

7. Population Served: Check the boxes that reflect the population(s) to be served by your project.

8. Museum Profile: Museum applicants must answer all questions (a - m) in this section. If you namedan organizational unit under 1d, this information must pertain to that unit.

9. Project Elements: Sparks Grants applicants skip this section.

Narrative

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How should my narrative document be formatted?

Limit the narrative to six single-spaced, numbered pages. We will remove any pages above the six-pagelimit, and they will not be reviewed as part of your application.

Make sure your organization's name appears at the top of each page. Use at least 0.5-inch margins on allsides and a font size of at least twelve point. See the instructions for "Supporting Documents" to providesupplementary material.

How will my narrative be reviewed?

Reviewers with a variety of professional backgrounds read Sparks Grants applications and advise us ontheir merits. They base their evaluations on the information presented in the applications. Your projectnarrative should therefore be clear, concise, and well organized, with a minimum of technical jargon.

Review criteria are listed below for each section of the narrative. These criteria describe what the reviewersare instructed to consider as they evaluate proposals. Keep these review criteria in mind when writing yournarrative.

How should my narrative be structured?

Structure your narrative according to the following outline, using the three section titles and addressing thebullet points beneath them. In each section of your narrative be mindful of the characteristics of asuccessful Sparks Grants project: They address a key need or challenge of the museum field, they reflect athorough understanding of current practice and knowledge; they employ novel approaches or techniques;and they generate results that are valuable to the museum field.

1. Project Justification

What do you propose to do?What need, problem, or challenge will your project address and how was it identified?Who or what will benefit from your project?What are the performance goals and intended results of your project?

Review Criteria:

Is the project clearly explained?Is the need, problem, or challenge to be addressed clearly identified and supported by relevantevidence?Are the people who will benefit from the project clearly identified, and have they been involved inplanning the project?Are the performance goals and intended results well formulated and achievable?Does the project address current needs of the museum field and/or have the potential to advancepractice in the museum profession?Does the project meet the Sparks Grants requirement of demonstrating broad impact, in-depthknowledge, and an innovative approach?

2. Project Work Plan

What specific activities will you carry out?Who will plan, implement, and manage your project?When and in what sequence will your activities occur?What financial, personnel, and other resources will you need to carry out the activities?What resources will your institution contribute to the project?How will you evaluate your project?How will you track your progress toward achieving your performance goals and intended results?In addition to the white paper, how and with whom will you share your project’s results?

Review Criteria:

Are the proposed activities informed by appropriate theory and practice?Do the identified staff, partners, consultants, and service providers possess the experience andskills necessary to complete the work successfully?Is the schedule of work realistic and achievable?Are the time, personnel, and financial resources identified appropriate for the scope and scale of the

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project?Does the institution provide evidence of its capacity to carry out the project activities?Is the proposed evaluation methodology appropriate for project activities? Will it result in valid,reliable, and generalizable findings?Is a clear methodology described for tracking the project’s progress and adjusting course whennecessary?Is there an effective plan for communicating results and/or sharing discoveries?

3. Project Results

What are the outcomes for the proposed project? What performance indicators will you use to measure these outcomes?What are the proposed targets for these performance indicators? How will you compare the proposed targets to actual outcomes?How will you determine whether this innovation can be adapted by others in the field?

Review Criteria:

Are the project's intended outcomes and performance indicators clearly articulated, appropriate andrealistic?If successful, what value will the results from the proposed project provide to the museum field?

Conditionally Required Documents

Failure to provide a conditionally required document will result in your application being consideredincomplete and rejected from further consideration.

Proof of Nonprofit Status

If your organization is a private, nonprofit institution, you must submit a copy of the IRS letterindicating your eligibility for nonprofit status under the applicable provision of the Internal RevenueCode of 1954, as amended. We will not accept a letter of state sales tax exemption as proof ofnonprofit status.

Supporting Documents

You may submit other attachments of your choosing as part of your application package, but do notoverload the reviewers with too much information. These attachments should be limited to information thatwill supplement your application narrative and project description. Supplemental information should not beused to answer narrative questions. You may wish to consider the following:

Letters of commitment from subrecipients who will receive grant funds or entities who will contributesubstantive funds to the completion of project activitiesLetters of commitment from consultants or other groups who will work closely with you on yourprojectLetters of support from experts and/or stakeholdersTechnical details about the proposed activities, including the Digital Stewardship SupplementaryInformation Form if your project involves a digital product.Needs assessments ( formal or informal documentation used to justify, evaluate, and plan projects)Reports from planning activitiesWeb links to relevant online materialsVendor quotesEquipment specifications

What Federal laws do I agree to comply with when I submit my application?

Click here to read the IMLS Assurances and Certifications

Are there registration requirements in order to submit an application?

Before submitting an application, your organization must have a current and active D-U-N-S® Number,SAM.gov registration, and Grants.gov registration. Check your materials and registrations well in advance ofthe application deadline to ensure that they are accurate, current, and active.

If your D-U-N-S® and SAM registrations are not active and current at the time of submission, your proposalwill be rejected; if they are not active and current at the time of an award, your proposal cannot be funded.

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What is a D-U-N-S® Number and how do I get one?

Click here to learn more about getting a D-U-N-S® Number.

What is the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and how do I register?

Click here to learn more about SAM.gov Registration.

Please note: You must continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at alltimes during which you have an active federal award or an application under consideration by IMLS.

What is Grants.gov and how do I register?

Click here to learn more about Grants.gov Registration and Tips for Using Grants.gov.

What is the deadline for applying for a Sparks Grant?

For FY15 Sparks Grants, Grants.gov will accept applications through 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time onDecember 1, 2014. All applications successfully submitted through Grants.gov contain a date and timestamp.

We strongly recommend that you REGISTER EARLY and COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THE APPLICATIONEARLY. Late applications are neither reviewed nor considered for funding. We make grants only to eligibleapplicants that submit complete applications, including attachments, on or before the deadline.

Contact the Grants.gov help line (1-800-518-4726) for assistance with hardware and software issues,registration issues, and technical problems. The help line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week,except for federal holidays, on which it is closed.

What happens after I submit my application to Grants.gov?

Once Grants.gov has received your submission, Grants.gov will send e-mail messages regarding theprogress of your application through the system. Over the next two business days, you should receive twoe-mails. The first will confirm receipt of your application by the Grants.gov system and the second willindicate that the application has either been successfully validated by the system prior to transmission toIMLS or has been rejected due to errors. Once your submission is retrieved by IMLS, you will receive a thirde-mail. You can check the status of your application(s) after submission in Grants.gov, by using the "TrackMy Application" feature. You may also check the status of a submission by logging into your Grants.govaccount using the Applicant Login and clicking on the "Check Application Status" link.

Are there funding restrictions?

You may use IMLS funds only for allowable costs as found in IMLS and applicable government-wide cost-principle rules, including OMB circulars and regulations.

Please Note: The recent Office of Management and Budget (OMB) final guidance on UniformAdministrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Grant Reform)has streamlined and consolidated grant requirements. The Grant Reform can be found at 2 CFR Part 200.Federal grant making agencies, including IMLS, are to formally adopt in whole or in part the Grant Reformby December 26, 2014.

The Grant Reform will be effective for all awards made after December 26, 2014; you will be required tofollow those regulations that will be in effect at the time of award. For this reason, you are encouraged tobecome familiar with the Grant Reform. If you have questions about the allowability of specific activities, callIMLS staff for guidance.

What are some examples of allowable costs for the FY2015 Sparks Grants?

The following list includes some examples of allowable costs, both for IMLS funds and for any cost share,in this grant program. Please consult the appropriate cost principles for additional guidance on allowablecosts.

personnel salaries, wages, and fringe benefitstravel expenses for key project staff and consultantsmaterials, supplies, software, and equipment directly related directly to project activitiespublication design and printingconsultant feesdesign, technical support, printing, non-construction labor

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internships/fellowships

You must justify all proposed expenses in your application budget.

What are some examples of unallowable costs for FY2015 Sparks Grants?

The following list includes some examples of unallowable costs, both for IMLS funds and for cost share, inthis grant program. Please consult the appropriate cost principles for additional guidance on unallowablecosts.

general museum fundraising costs, such as development office staff or other staff time devoted togeneral fundraisingcontributions to endowmentsgeneral museum operating supportacquisition of collectionsgeneral advertising or public relations costs designed solely to promote activities other than thoserelated to the specific projectconstruction and renovation of museum facilities (generally, any activity involving contract labor ofthe construction trades is not an allowable cost)exhibit fabrication that involves contract labor of the construction tradesreconstruction or renovation of historic sitessocial activities, ceremonies, receptions, or entertainmentpre-award costsoverhead or indirect costs

Are partner-related costs allowable?

Yes. Click here for helpful information about incorporating partners into your project.

What are the requirements regarding foreign travel?

All air transportation of persons or property that is paid in whole or in part with IMLS funds must beperformed in accordance with applicable law, including but not limited to the Fly America Act (49 U.S.C.§40118). Each separate foreign trip must be itemized in the budget approved by IMLS. Foreign travel that isnot included in the approved project budget must be specifically approved in writing by the appropriateIMLS program officer.

What are the requirements for cost sharing?

There are no matching or cost share requirements for FY15 Sparks Grants. However, any cost sharing thatappears in your project budget should be carefully calculated. Grantees are expected to meet their costshare commitments.

Click here for more information on cost sharing.

What are my choices regarding indirect costs?

Indirect costs are not an allowable expense for FY15 Sparks Grants.

E. Application Review Process

What are the characteristics of successful Sparks Grants applications?

Broad Impact: Your project should show the potential for far-reaching impact beyond yourinstitution, and influence practice across one or more disciplines or specific fields within themuseum profession.In-depth Knowledge: Your project should reflect a thorough understanding of current practice andknowledge about the subject matter and an awareness and support of current strategic initiativesand agendas in the field.Innovative Approach: Your project should employ new approaches to strengthen and improveservices to benefit the audiences and communities being served.Shared Results: Your project should generate results that can be widely used, adapted, scaled, orreplicated to leverage the benefits of federal investment. Grantees are required to submit a shortwhite paper to be publicly posted and shared with the field.

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What is the review and selection process?

We use a peer review process to evaluate all eligible and complete applications. Reviewers areprofessionals in the field with relevant knowledge and expertise in the types of project activities identified inthe applications. They are instructed to evaluate individual parts of an application according to the ReviewCriteria in Section D (above). Reviewer conflicts of interest are identified prior to review, and reviewers whomay have conflicts with particular proposals are reassigned to review other projects.

The Director takes into account the advice provided by the review process and makes final fundingdecisions consistent with the purposes of the agency's programs.

Is cost sharing considered in the review process?

Cost sharing is not required for FY15 Sparks Grants. However, any cost share that you include in yourproject budget is a consideration in the review of your application and should be carefully calculated.

When will we find out if we have been selected to receive a grant?

Shortly after you submit your application to Grants.gov, you will receive an electronic acknowledgement ofits receipt, followed several days later by a notice that your application has been downloaded by IMLS. Bymid-January, you will receive an e-mail message from IMLS-MuseumGrants@imls.gov confirming thenames of the project director and authorizing official, the amount of the request, and providing you with theIMLS log number assigned to your application.

No other information about the status of an application will be released until the applications have beenreviewed and all deliberations have been concluded. IMLS expects to notify both funded and unfundedapplicants of final decisions by July 2015. Funded projects may not begin before August 1, 2015.

F. Award Administration Information

How will we be notified if we receive an award?

Award notifications will be sent electronically to the authorized representative/authorizing official and projectdirector. They will contain the following:

cover letter;the official grant award notification;the schedule of reporting dates;reviewers’ comments;links to applicable documents, including general terms and conditions and reporting forms.

Applicants who do not receive awards will be notified electronically at the same time.

What is the period of time in which my organization can conduct activities funded bya FY15 Sparks Grant award?

The grant award period will run from the first day of the month in which project activities are undertaken andwill end on the last day of the month in which these activities are completed. Projects activities supported bySparks Grants may generally be carried out for up to one year.

What are the administrative and national policy requirements?

Organizations that receive IMLS grants or cooperative agreements are subject to the IMLS General Termsand Conditions for IMLS Discretionary Awards and the IMLS Assurances and Certifications. Organizationsthat receive IMLS funding must be familiar with these requirements and comply with applicable law.

As an applicant for Federal funds, you must certify that you are responsible for complying with certainnondiscrimination, debarment and suspension, drug-free workplace, and lobbying laws. These are set outin more detail, along with other requirements, in the Assurances and Certifications. By signing theapplication form, which includes the Assurances and Certifications, you certify that you are in compliancewith these requirements and that you will maintain records and submit any reports that are necessary toensure compliance. Your failure to comply with these statutory and regulatory requirements may result inthe suspension or termination of your grant and require you to return funds to the government.

What are the reporting requirements associated with grant awards?

Reports are due according to the reporting schedule that accompanies your grant award notification. Please

Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums Notice of Funding Opportunity 2015

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note that grantees must submit performance reports in the format defined by the IMLS; both interim andfinal performance reports may be accessible on the IMLS website to support the agency’s commitment toopen government, to engage the public in communities of practice, and to inform proposal developmentand grant making strategies.

For details and forms, please see: http://www.imls.gov/recipients/administration.aspx.

What are the performance expectations associated with grant awards?

In your performance reports, refer to the intended outcomes identified in the application and assess themagainst your originally stated performance goals. The intended results and benefits identified in theapplication narrative should be noted, along with the performance indicators.

What do I need to know about acknowledgement of IMLS support, sharing IMLS-supported work products and copyright, data management and sharing?

Read more about acknowledgement of IMLS support, sharing IMLS-supported work products andcopyright, data management and sharing

G. Contacts

How can I contact IMLS program staff?

See the Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums program web page for IMLS contact information. We areavailable by phone and through email to discuss general issues relating to the Sparks! Ignition Grants forMuseums program.

How can I participate in a webinar?

Learn more about museum grant programs by participating in IMLS webinars. Click here for instructions.

1. A general presentation on IMLS museum grants. We recommend that you view this presentationbefore participating in a program-specific webinar.

2. FY15 Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums program webinar

H. Other Information

What are the requirements regarding conflict of interest?

You must comply with IMLS’ conflict of interest requirements. These requirements include disclosing inwriting to IMLS or a pass-through entity any potential conflict of interest.

How long should it take me to complete this application?

We estimate the average amount of time needed for one applicant to complete the narrative portion of thisapplication to be 40 hours. This includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing datasources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and writing and reviewing the answers.

We estimate that, in addition to the time needed for you to answer the narrative questions, it will take you anaverage of 15 minutes per response for the IMLS Program Information Sheet, three hours per response forthe IMLS Budget Form, and one hour per response for the Digital Stewardship Supplementary InformationForm.

Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information,including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Institute of Museum and Library Services at 1800 MStreet, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20036-5802, and to the Office of Management and Budget,Paperwork Reduction Project (3137-0029), Washington, DC 20503.

How can I become a reviewer?

If you are interested in serving as a reviewer, you may submit your information through our online reviewerapplication at www.imls.gov/reviewers/become.aspx. Please remember to attach your resume. Yourinformation will be considered and, if accepted, your name will be entered into our reviewer database. Youwill be contacted prior to the next deadline regarding your availability to serve as a reviewer.

There are many benefits to reviewing applications, including enhancing your professional knowledge and

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serving the museum and library communities. If you are selected to serve, you will be helping IMLS andstrengthening our grant review process.

Office of Management and Budget Clearance NumbersGuidelines: OMB No. 3137-0029; Expiration Date: September 30, 2015.Forms: OMB No. 3137-0071; Expiration Date: September 30, 2015.

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View Available GrantsGrant Name:(Select multiple optionsby pressing the controlkey as you click.)

AllConservation Assessment ProgramGrants to State Library Administrative AgenciesLaura Bush 21st Century Librarian ProgramMuseum Assessment ProgramMuseum Grants for African American History and CultureMuseums for America

Project Type:(Select multiple optionsby pressing the controlkey as you click.)

AllAwardsCollections ManagementCommunity EngagementConservationDemonstrationDigital Collections/Tools

Institution:(Select multiple optionsby pressing the controlkey as you click.)

AllArchivesFederally Recognized Native American TribeHistorical SocietyLibraryMuseumNonprofits that serve Native Hawaiians

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Museums

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Each grant program has specific eligibility requirements. The links belowprovide general eligibility criteria for museums, libraries, and tribalorganizations, but please note that additional organizations may beeligible for grants under certain programs. Additionally, ineligibleorganizations may still be able to participate in grant programs throughpartnerships with eligible organizations. Please see Applications andGuidelines for specific information.

Museums

Libraries

Tribal Organizations

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Search grants by grantname, institution, or projecttype.

Search AwardedGrants

Search our archive of grantsawarded by the Institute.Search now

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Museum Grants for African American History andCulture

MH-00-14-0020, Maryland African American Museum Corporation

MH-00-14-0023, Museum of African American History

MH-00-14-0029, Spelman College Museum of Fine Art

Museums for America

Learning Experiences

MA-10-14-0431-14, City of Palo Alto (Palo Alto Art Center)MA-10-14-0230-14, Museum of the New SouthMA-10-14-0551-14, USS Constitution MuseumMA-10-14-0411-14, North Carolina Museum of ArtMA-10-14-0253-14, Pacific Science CenterMA-10-14-0257-14, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine ArtsMA-10-14-0458-14, Children’s Museum of Denver

$25,000 or Less Funding Level:MA-11-14-0202, Historic Cherry Hill Inc.

Community Anchors

MA-20-14-0283, Charles and Emma Frye Free Public Art MuseumMA-20-14-0417, Nurture Nature CenterMA-20-14-0438, Chicago Zoological Society (Brookfield Zoo)

Collections Stewardship

MA-30-14-0296, Virginia Museum of Fine ArtsMA-30-14-0276, Gilcrease MuseumMA-30-14-0246, Isabella Stewart Gardner MuseumMA-30-14-0499, Denver Museum of Nature and Science

$25,000 or Less Funding Level:MA-31-14-0527, University of Rochester (Memorial Art Gallery)

National Leadership Grants for Museums

Learning Experiences: MG-10-14-0067, University of Washington

Community Anchors: MG-20-14-0060, Museum of Science, Boston

Collections Stewardship: MG-30-14-0072, Cincinnati Zoo and BotanicalGarden

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Search grants by grantname, institution, or projecttype.

Search AwardedGrants

Search our archive of grantsawarded by the Institute.Search now

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Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum ServicesProgram

MN-00-14-0006, Chilkat Indian Village

MN-00-14-0031, Yurok Tribe

MN-00-13-0021 Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation

Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums

LG-45-14-0004, Carnegie Museum of Natural History

LG-45-14-0012, Indianapolis Museum of Art

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program

Masters Level -- Project

Masters Level -- Planning

Doctoral Program -- Project

Early Career Development -- Project

Research -- Project

Programs to Build Institutional Capacity -- Project

Continuing Education -- Project

Continuing Education -- Project

Continuing Education -- Planning

National Leadership Grants for Libraries

Advancing Digital Resources

Research

Demonstration

Library and Museum Collaboration

Native American Library Services: EnhancementGrants

Technology Library Innovations for Education (T-LIFE)

Pascua Yaqui Tribe

Chilkoot Indian Association

Pueblo of Pojoaque

Lac Courte Oreilles

Cherokee Nation

Lummi Nation

Native Hawaiian Library Services

Sample Narrative

Sample Applications

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About Grants.gov

As part of the President’s E-Government initiative, the federal government developed Grants.gov, a singleWeb site for organizations to electronically find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all 26 ofthe federal grant-making agencies.

The Institute requires all applicants to apply online through Grants.gov. Applicants whoare unable to use Grants.gov should contact an IMLS program officer.

Please note that the entire completed application must be either online through Grants.gov - the Institutewill not accept mailed paper attachments.

For more information on the process of applying through Grants.gov, view the Applicant Resources.

Having Problems with Grants.gov?

If you experience any difficulties submitting your application through grants.gov, contact the IMLS ProgramContact for the program you are applying to. Also, check out our Tips for Working Successfully WithGrants.gov.

Grants.gov Registration

All applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting their application. The multi-step registrationprocess generally cannot be completed in a single day. Applicants that are not already registered shouldallow at least two weeks to complete this one-time process. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY OF THEAPPLICATION DEADLINE TO REGISTER.

Step-by-step instructions for registering are available here. If you have problems registering, call theGrants.gov help desk at 1-800-518-4726; e-mail support@grants.gov; or consult the information posted onGrants.gov.

You do not need to complete the registration process to download the application package and begin toprepare your material (see below). However, you will need your Grants.gov UserID and password that youobtain during the registration process to submit your application when it’s complete.

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Application Forms

Links to application forms are provided below for your convenience. Applicants must download theapplication package from Grants.gov in order to apply.

Consult program Notice of Funding Opportunity to determine which forms are neededfor your application.

For best results, download the forms to your computer and work on them outside ofyour internet browser.

SF-424S:

Instructions for filling out the Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organizational Form (SF-424S) Please note: The SF-424S form is only available in the package that applicants must download fromGrants.gov.

IMLS Program Information Sheet (minimum requirements Adobe Reader 7.0.5):

Adobe® PDF (853 KB)

IMLS Budget Form (minimum requirements Adobe Reader 7.0.5):

Adobe® PDF (212 KB)

Note: JavaScript must be enabled.

Digital Stewardship Supplementary Information Form:

Adobe® PDF (87 KB)

Microsoft Word (50 KB)

Budget Form for Native American Basic Grants, Part A:

Adobe® PDF (75 KB)

Microsoft® Word Document (46 KB)

Budget Form for Native American Basic Grants, Part B:

Adobe® PDF (73 KB)

Microsoft® Word Document (39 KB)

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Application Review Process

The Institute uses a peer review process to competitively evaluate alleligible and complete applications. Reviewers are professionals in thefield who have relevant knowledge and expertise in the types of activitiesand organizations identified in the applications. Reviewers are instructedto evaluate proposed projects according to the criteria identified in theprogram guidelines. The Institute’s director makes funding decisionsbased on the reviewers’ evaluations and the overall goals of the programand the agency.

Check grant program guidelines for information on when the programoffice expects to notify both funded and unfunded applicants of finalaward decisions.

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Basics

Purposes

Webography

Presentations

The mission of the Institute of Museum and Library Services is to createstrong libraries and museums that connect people to information andideas. Our accountability for advancing this goal reaches in manydirections: toward our federal decision-makers, toward our granteecommunities and their audiences, and to the public at large. If we aresincere in our goal—to help libraries and museums contribute to a nationwhose people routinely seek strong skills and knowledge, adaptproductively to change, actively engage in their work and communities,and excel in many areas of personal and public life—we must do morethan provide support. We must measure and report our progress.

Note that for IMLS, while academic knowledge and skills are foundations,learning is broader. It includes the cognitive, social, and physical; thepractical, entertaining, and personal; the formal and informal; and many,many more domains and settings. Learning represents knowledge,attitudes, skills, and behaviors that support individual success in ourcomplex world—in short, outcomes. Outcomes allow us to knowsomething about the extent to which we have (or haven’t) reached ouraudiences. Information about outcomes allows us to strengthen ourservices. Equally important, it communicates the value of museums andlibraries to the broadest spectrum of those to whom we account. Withoutdata, it’s been said, "you’re just another guy with an opinion."

IMLS has responded to your need to know what difference our servicesmake by developing a model of outcomes-based planning and evaluationas one foundation of our grant making. As our grantee or constituent, youconnect to your audiences where learning happens. You can documentindividual change, often small and immediate, when it occurs. You canapply outcomes information quickly, to strengthen services as youdevelop and provide them. Finally, only you can accommodate the greatvariety of missions, resources, audiences, and creative services ofmuseums and libraries as you assess your work. We turn to you not onlyto build locally effective learning resources and experiences, but also tomeasure the extent to which they achieve their educational purposes.

This area of our Web site contains information and resources aboutoutcomes-based planning and evaluation. We hope you will return to thissite often to see additions. If you have questions about library ormuseum-appropriate outcomes, or about outcomes-oriented planning orevaluation, please don’t hesitate to contact IMLS’s Research andEvaluation Officer, Matt Birnbaum, at mbirnbaum@imls.gov.

Susan HildrethDirector, Institute of Museum and Library Services

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2015 Guide to Funding Programs andOpportunities

This four-page overview of IMLS funding programsprovides succinct information on the agency's grant andaward programs, as well as agency initiatives andpriorities. Read more.

Having problems with Grants.gov? Contact us, we can helpyou.

Are you interested in applying for an IMLS grant?

The links below will help you find the right grant for your institution, andintroduce you to the process of applying so you can properly prepare foryour application.

The Application Process

1. Search for available grantsGrant programs and deadlines can be searched by name, by eligibleinstitution type, and by project type. View available grants.

2. Check eligibility requirementsEligibility criteria will vary by program. Checking the program-specificcriteria will help you ensure you're applying for the right grant for yourinstitution. Read more.

3. Read application guidelinesRead through the application guidelines carefully to get all the informationyou need on the grant program. Read more.

4. Compose your applicationUse the Applicant Tools & Materials links on the right to help youcompose a stronger, more competitive application.

5. Contact a program officerWe welcome calls from applicants and are happy to answer anyquestions about the grant application and review process. Conversationswith program officers can provide useful guidance and help you toexplore how your idea may match the goals of a grant program. Contactus.

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Search grants by grantname, institution, or projecttype.

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Sample ApplicationsExamples of successfulapplications from previousyears

Outcome BasedEvaluationIntroduction to and resourcesfor successful programevaluation

Shaping OutcomesAn IMLS-funded onlinecourse on outcomes-basedplanning and evaluation,which will help participantsimprove program designs andevaluations.

Grantee RequirementsAdministration anddissemination requirementsfor all grantees

Reviewer MaterialsGuidelines and handbooksused during applicationreview

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6. Submit your application via Grants.govConsult our Grants.gov guidelines to ensure we will receive yourapplication, complete and on-time. Read more.

7. What happens next?Learn how applications are reviewed and when grant announcements aremade. Read more.

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IMLS Assurances and Certifications

As a Federal agency, IMLS is required to obtain from all applicants certifications, including those regardingNondiscrimination, Debarment and Suspension, Federal Debt Status, and Drug-Free Workplace. Applicantsrequesting more than $100,000 in grant funds must also certify regarding lobbying activities and may berequired to submit a "Disclosure of Lobbying Activities" form (Standard Form LLL). Some applicants will berequired to certify that they will comply with other federal statutes that pertain to their particular situation.These requirements are incorporated in the Assurances Statement below. The authorized representativemust review the statement and provide the certification in item 9 on the Application for Federal DomesticAssistance/Short Organizational Form (SF-424s).

Assurances Statement

By signing the application form, the authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, assures andcertifies that, should a grant be awarded, the applicant will comply with the statutes outlined below and allrelated IMLS regulations (see 45 C.F.R. Chapter XI and 2 C.F.R. Chapter XXXI). These assurances aregiven in connection with any and all financial assistance from IMLS after the date this form is signed, butmay include payments after this date for financial assistance approved prior to this date. These assurancesshall obligate the applicant for the period during which the federal financial assistance is extended. Theapplicant recognizes and agrees that any such assistance will be extended in reliance on therepresentations and agreements made in these assurances, and that the United States Government hasthe right to seek judicial enforcement of these assurances, which are binding on the applicant, itssuccessors, transferees, and assignees, and on the authorized official whose signature appears on theapplication form.

Certifications Required of All Applicants

Financial, Administrative, and Legal AccountabilityThe authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the applicant has legal authority toapply for federal assistance and the institutional, managerial, and financial capability (including fundssufficient to pay the nonfederal share of project costs) to ensure proper planning, management, reporting,recordkeeping, and completion of the project described in this application.

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the applicant will cause to beperformed the required financial and compliance audits in accordance with the Single Audit ActAmendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. §7501 et seq.) and OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, LocalGovernments, and Non-Profit Organizations."

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the applicant will comply with theprovisions of applicable OMB Circulars.

NondiscriminationThe authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the applicant will comply with thefollowing nondiscrimination statutes and their implementing regulations:

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. §2000 et seq.), which prohibitsdiscrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin (note: as clarified by Executive Order13166, the applicant must take reasonable steps to ensure that limited English proficient (LEP)persons have meaningful access to the applicant’s programs (see IMLS guidance at 68 FederalRegister 17679, April 10, 2003));

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Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. §701 et seq., including §794),which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability (note: IMLS applies the regulations in 45C.F.R. Part 1170 in determining compliance with section 504 as it applies to recipients of Federalassistance);Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended (20 U.S.C. §1681–83, §1685–86),which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs; andthe Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1975, as amended (42 U.S.C. §6101 et seq.), whichprohibits discrimination on the basis of age.the requirements of any other nondiscrimination statute(s) which may apply to the application.

Debarment and SuspensionThe applicant shall comply with 2 C.F.R. Part 3185 and 2 C.F.R. Part 180, as applicable. The authorizedrepresentative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies to the best of his or her knowledge and belief that neitherthe applicant nor any of its principals:

are presently excluded or disqualified;have been convicted within the preceding three years of any of the offenses listed in 2 C.F.R. §180.800(a) or had a civil judgment rendered against it or them for one of those offenses within thattime period;are presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity (Federal,State, or local) with commission of any of the offenses listed in 2 C.F.R. § 180.800(a); orhave had one or more public transactions (Federal, State, or local) terminated within the precedingthree years for cause or default.

Where the applicant is unable to certify to any of the statements in this certification, he or she shall attachan explanation to this application.

The applicant, as a primary tier participant, is required to comply with 2 C.F.R. Part 180 subpart C(Responsibilities of Participants Regarding Transactions Doing Business with Other Persons) as a conditionof participation in the award. The applicant is also required to communicate the requirement to comply with2 C.F.R. Part 180 subpart C (Responsibilities of Participants Regarding Transactions Doing Business withOther Persons) to persons at the next lower tier with whom the applicant enters into covered transactions.

As noted in the preceding paragraph, applicants who plan to use IMLS awards to fund contracts should beaware that they must comply with the communication and verification requirements set forth in the aboveDebarment and Suspension provisions.

Federal Debt StatusThe authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies to the best of his or her knowledge andbelief that the applicant is not delinquent in the repayment of any federal debt.

Drug-Free WorkplaceThe authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies, as a condition of the award, that theapplicant will or will continue to provide a drug-free workplace by complying with the requirements in 2C.F.R. Part 3186 (Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Financial Assistance)). In particular, you as therecipient must comply with drug-free workplace requirements in subpart B (or subpart C, if the recipient isan individual) of 2 C.F.R. Part 3186, which adopts the Governmentwide implementation (2 C.F.R. Part 182)of sec. 5152-5158 of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-690, Title V, Subtitle D; 41 U.S.C.701-707).

This includes, but is not limited to: making a good faith effort, on a continuing basis, to maintain a drug-freeworkplace; publishing a drug-free workplace statement; establishing a drug-free awareness program foryour employees; taking actions concerning employees who are convicted of violating drug statutes in theworkplace; and identifying (either at the time of application or upon award, or in documents you keep on filein your offices) all known workplaces under your Federal awards.

Trafficking in PersonsThe authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies, as a condition of the award, that theapplicant will comply with the trafficking in persons requirements that are set out in the General Terms andConditions for IMLS Discretionary Awards (2 C.F.R. 175.15 Award Term.).

Certification Regarding Lobbying Activities (Applies to Applicants Requesting Funds inExcess of $100,000) (31 U.S.C. §1352)The authorized representative certifies, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, that:

IMLS Assurances and Certifications

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(a) No Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid, by or on behalf of the authorizedrepresentative, to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of an agency,a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress inconnection with the awarding of any Federal contract, the making of any Federal grant, the making of anyFederal loan, the entering into of any cooperative agreement, and the extension, continuation, renewal,amendment, or modification of any Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement.

(b) If any funds other than Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person (otherthan a regularly employed officer or employee of the applicant, as provided in 31 U.S.C. 1352) forinfluencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, anofficer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with this Federalcontract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement, the authorized representative shall complete and submitStandard Form LLL, "Disclosure of Lobbying Activities," in accordance with its instructions.

(c) The authorized representative shall require that the language of this certification be included in theaward documents for all subawards at all tiers (including subcontracts and contracts under grants, loans,and cooperative agreements) and that all subrecipients shall certify and disclose accordingly.

This certification is a material representation of fact upon which reliance is placed when the transaction ismade or entered into. Submission of this certification is a prerequisite for making or entering into thetransaction imposed by section 1352, title 31, U.S. Code. Any person who fails to file the requiredcertification shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and not more than $100,000 for eachsuch failure.

General CertificationThe authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the applicant will comply with allapplicable requirements of all other Federal laws, executive orders, regulations, and policies governing theprogram.

Certifications Required of Some Applicants

The following certifications are required if applicable to the project for which an application is beingsubmitted. Applicants should be aware that additional federal certifications, not listed below, might apply toa particular project.

Subgrants

A grantee may not make a subgrant unless expressly authorized by the Institute (see IMLS regulations at45 CFR §1180.55).

Native American Human Remains and Associated Funerary ObjectsThe authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the applicant will comply with theprovisions of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (25 U.S.C. §3001 etseq.), which applies to any organization that controls or possesses Native American human remains andassociated funerary objects, and which receives federal funding, even for a purpose unrelated to the Act.

Historic PropertiesThe authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the applicant will assist the awardingagency in ensuring compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, asamended (16 U.S.C. §470f), Executive Order (E.O.) 11593, and the Archaeological and HistoricPreservation Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. §469 et seq.).

Environmental ProtectionsThe authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the project will comply withenvironmental standards, including the following:

(a) institution of environmental quality control measures under the National Environmental Policy Act of1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. §4321 et seq.) and E.O. 11514;

(b) notification of violating facilities pursuant to E.O. 11738;

(c) protection of wetlands pursuant to E.O. 11990, as amended by E.O. 12608;

(d) evaluation of flood hazards in floodplains in accordance with E.O. 11988, as amended;

(e) assurance of project consistency with the approved State management program developed under theCoastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. §1451 et seq.);

IMLS Assurances and Certifications

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(f ) conformity of federal actions to State (Clean Air) Implementation Plans under section 176(c) of theClean Air Act of 1955, as amended (42 U.S.C. §7401 et seq.);

(g) protection of underground sources of drinking water under the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, asamended (42 U.S.C. §300f et seq.); and

(h) protection of endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C.§1531–1543).

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the project will comply with the Wildand Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, as amended (16 U.S.C. §1271 et seq.), related to protecting components orpotential components of the national wild and scenic rivers system.

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the applicant will comply with theflood insurance purchase requirements of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended (42U.S.C. §4001 et seq.), which requires recipients in a special flood hazard area to participate in the programand to purchase flood insurance if the total cost of insurable construction and acquisition is $10,000 ormore.

Research on Human SubjectsThe authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the project will comply with 45 C.F.R.Part 46 regarding the protection of human subjects involved in research, development, and related activitiessupported by this award of assistance.

Research on Animal SubjectsThe authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the project will comply with theLaboratory Animal Welfare Act of 1966, as amended (7 U.S.C. §2131 et seq.) pertaining to the care,handling, and treatment of warm-blooded animals held for research, teaching, or other activities supportedby this award of assistance.

###

For further information on these certifications, contact IMLS, 1800 M Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20036. Or call202/653-IMLS (4657).

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Tips for Working with Grants.gov

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Grants.gov Registration and Tips

Grants.gov Registration

You must register with Grants.gov before submitting your application to IMLS. Click here to learn moreabout the multistep registration process. Make sure your D-U-N-S® Number and SAM.gov registration areaccurate, current, and active. We recommend that you allow 4 weeks to complete all steps in theGrants.gov registration process. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE WEEK OF THE APPLICATION DEADLINE TOREGISTER.

Before submitting an application, your organization must have a current and active D-U-N-S® Number,SAM registration, and Grants.gov registration. Check your materials and registrations well in advance of theapplication deadline to ensure that they are accurate, current, and active.

Tips for Working with Grants.gov

1. Start early! Click here to learn more about Grants.gov resources, which include checklists, FAQs,and online tutorials to assist you in preparing your organization to submit applications.

2. You must designate at least one Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) to use Grants.gov.Consider designating more than one AOR when you register. This will help avoid last-minute crisesin the event that your one AOR is unavailable when you are ready to submit your application. Also,you should update the AOR at Grants.gov when staff at your organization changes.

3. Make effective technological choices.

Download the most recent version of Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® onto your computer forbest results. Make sure to submit all documents in Adobe® PDF format.

Follow the instructions in the Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity to convert yourdocuments into PDFs. Click here to learn more about PDF conversion programs. UseInternet Explorer® as your browser when submitting the application to Grants.gov. Click herefor more information about browsers.

4. Contact the Grants.gov help line(1-800-518-4726) for assistance with hardware and softwareissues, registration issues, and technical problems. The help line is available 24 hours a day, sevendays a week, except for federal holidays, when it is closed.

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How to Fill Out the SF-424S

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How to Fill Out the SF-424S

The SF-424S is the "Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organizational Form" onGrants.gov.

Items 1-4 are automatically filled in by Grants.gov

Item 5. Applicant Information

a. Legal Name: Enter your organization’s legal name as it appears in its SAM.gov registration. See grantNotice of Funding Opportunity for eligibility details. If your organization is eligible but does not have theauthority to apply directly for funding, enter the name of the parent organization that is submitting theapplication on your organization’s behalf. In that case, enter the name of your organization in the spaceprovided for "Organizational Unit" on the Program Information Sheet, Question 1d.

b. Address: For Street1, enter your organization’s street address or post office box number, whichever isused for its U.S. Postal Service mailing address. Street2 is not a required field and should be used onlywhen a suite or room number or other similar information is part of the address.

In the ZIP+4/Postal Code box, enter the full nine-digit ZIP code assigned by the U.S. Postal Service. Clickhere to retrieve your full ZIP code.

c. Web Address: Enter the Web address of the legal applicant organization.

d. Type of Applicant: Select the one code that best characterizes your organization from the menu inthe first dropdown box. Leave the other boxes blank.

e. Employer/Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN/TIN): Enter the Employer or TaxpayerIdentification Number (EIN or TIN) assigned to your organization by the Internal Revenue Service.

f. Organizational DUNS: Enter your organization’s D-U-N-S® Number received from Dun andBradstreet. Click here for guidance in obtaining a D-U-N-S® Number.

g. Congressional District: Enter your organization’s Congressional District. Use the following format:two-letter state abbreviation, followed by a hyphen, followed by a zero, followed by the two-digit districtnumber. For example, if the organization is located in the 5th congressional district of California, enter "CA-005." For the 12th district of North Carolina, enter "NC-012." For states and territories with "At Large"congressional districts—that is, one representative or delegate represents the entire state or territory—use"001," e.g., "VT-001.

If your organization does not have a congressional district (e.g., it is located in a U.S. territory that does nothave districts), enter "00-000." To determine your organization’s district, visit the House of Representativeswebsite by clicking here and using the "Find Your Representative" tool.

Item 6. Project Information

a. Project Title: Enter a brief descriptive title for your project. IMLS may use this title for publicinformation purposes.

b. Project Description: Enter a brief description of your specific project, not your organization. Tell uswhat your project will do, for whom or what, and why. Use clear language that can be understood readily byreaders who might not be familiar with the discipline or subject area. Note: There is a 1,000character limit (including spaces) for this section in Grants.gov! Your application may

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be rejected if you exceed this limit.

c. Proposed Project Start Date/End Date: Enter the proposed start date and end date for yourproject in the format mm/dd/yyyy. Your project must begin on the first day of a month and end on the lastday of a month, as directed in the program Notice of Funding Opportunities.

Item 7. Project Director

Enter the requested information for the person who will have primary responsibility for carrying out yourproject’s activities. Please select a prefix, even though it is not required.

Item 8. Primary Contact/Grants Administrator

Enter the requested information for the individual who has primary responsibility for administering the grant.If the Primary Contact/Grants Administrator is the same as the Authorized Representative, please completeboth Items 8 and 9.

In some organizations, particularly smaller ones, this individual may be the same as the Project Director. Ifthis is the case, check the box and skip to Item 9.

Item 9. Authorized Representative

Enter the name and contact information of the person who has the authority to enter into legal agreementsin the name of your organization. The Authorized Representative cannot be the same person as the ProjectDirector. By checking the "I Agree" box at the top of Item 9, this individual certifies the applicant’scompliance with relevant federal requirements (the IMLS Assurances and Certifications). IMLS will addresswritten correspondence to the Authorized Representative whose information you enter in Item 9.

The "Signature of Authorized Representative" and "Date Signed" boxes will be automatically populated byGrants.gov upon submission of the application. This will be the person whose name was listed as yourorganization’s Authorized Representative when you registered with Grants.gov. Please note that this namemight not be the same as the name and other information you entered in Item 9 above; however, the personwhose name appears in the “Signature of Authorized Representative” box must have authorization fromyour organization to submit this application on behalf of your organization. Submission of the electronicapplication acknowledges that your organization certifies compliance with relevant federal requirements,including but not limited to the IMLS Assurances and Certifications, to the same extent as the signaturedoes on a paper application.

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Organizational Profile

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Organizational Profile

An organizational profile must be no more than one page and include the following information:

Your organization’s mission or statement of purpose, noting the source, approving body, and date ofthe official document in which it appears. If your organization’s mission statement is longer than onepage, you may excerpt from it or summarize it to convey the essential points.Your service area (communities and/or audiences served, including size, demographiccharacteristics, and geographic area)A brief history of your organization, focusing on the unit that will be directly involved in carrying outthe wor

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Schedule of Completion

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Schedule of Completion

The Schedule of Completion should reflect each major activity identified in your application narrative andthe project dates identified on the Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organizational Form(SF-424S) and IMLS Budget Form. It should show when each major project activity will be undertaken,mark important milestones for the project, and be no longer than one page per project year. If any proposedactivity is part of a larger project, make sure the IMLS-funded portion is clearly identified. Click image belowfor a larger view.

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Instructions for Completing Budget Documents

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Instructions for Completing Budget Documents

You must provide two budget documents to describe the costs of a proposed project:

IMLS Budget FormBudget Justification

Note: If a separate IMLS Budget Form is included in an application for a project partner’s portion of anoverall project budget, please include the partner budget as a supporting document. Be sure that theprimary IMLS Budget Form and Budget Justification for the lead applicant include summary explanationsof all partner budget details. Project partner budgets must comply with all instructions in these Notice ofFunding Opportunities regarding allowable costs and methods of budget calculation.

IMLS Budget Form

The IMLS Budget Form is designed to accommodate up to three years of project activities and expenses.Project timelines, allowable costs, and other budget details vary by program. Be sure to review the Notice ofFunding Opportunity for the grant program/category to which you are applying before you complete theIMLS Budget Form. The Year 1 columns should include costs for activities that begin on the project startdate (as listed on 6c of the SF-424S) and end 12 months later. If the project timeline exceeds one year, listthe costs for the next 12 months in the Year 2 columns. If the project extends beyond two years, list thecosts for the next 12 months in the Year 3 columns. If the program/category to which you are applyingpermits a fourth year as part of the budget, enter Year 4 budget details on a second copy of the IMLSBudget Form.

The budget should include the project costs that will be charged to grant funds as well as those that will besupported by cost sharing. In-kind contributions to cost sharing may include the value of services (e.g.,donated volunteer or consultant time) or equipment donated to the project between the authorized start andend dates of your project. All the items listed, whether supported by grant funds or cost share, must benecessary to accomplish project objectives, allowable according to the applicable federal cost principles,auditable, and incurred during the grant period. Charges to the project for items such as salaries, fringebenefits, travel, and contractual services must conform to the written policies and established practices ofyour organization. You must report all revenues generated with project funds during the grant period asprogram income and apply it to your cost share.

1. Salaries and Wages: Include both temporary and permanent staff as well as volunteers engaged inproject activities. Document the method of cost computation (e.g., as percentage of a person’s time devotedto the project, a number of days, a number of hours) in your Budget Justification.

2. Fringe Benefits: Fringe benefits may include contributions for Social Security, employee insurance,pension plans, etc. Limit direct cost fringe benefits to those not included in your indirect cost pool. Fringebenefits may be claimed only on the portion of Salaries and Wages identified for this project.

3. Travel: Before completing this section of the IMLS Budget Form, please consult the Notice of FundingOpportunity for the program to which you are applying for any special guidance.

Explain the method of cost computation for each travel cost, including subsistence and transportation, inyour Budget Justification.

You must use the lowest available commercial fares for coach or equivalent accommodations, and you

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Instructions for Completing Budget Documents

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must use U.S. flagged air carriers for foreign travel when such services are available, in accordance withapplicable U.S. legal requirements.

4. Supplies, Materials, and Equipment: List the costs of supplies, materials, and equipmentpurchased specifically for the proposed project. For definitions and other information regarding supplies,materials, and equipment, please see 2 CFR Part 200.Use the Budget Justification to explain or describethese items in further detail.

5. Contracts and Subawards: List the costs of project activities to be undertaken by a third party,including a formal partner, as a single line item that shows the amount that will be charged to IMLS grantfunds and any cost sharing that will be contributed by the third party. Itemize these third party costs in theBudget Justification.List any individuals or groups who will provide consulting services for the project andtheir fees. Explain the method of computation for fees in your Budget Justification. Click here for moreinformation on partners.

6. Student Support: If you are applying for a program that allows student support, enter those costs inthis section. Student support can include costs such as scholarships or fellowships or student participantsupport costs. Other student items such as wages, materials including books or other supplies, studentmemberships in professional organizations, and travel should be included elsewhere in the budget (e.g.,under supplies, contracts, travel categories) and identified as student items (e.g. “student wages”).

7. Other Costs: Use this section for costs that are not assignable to other categories. Please do not usethe "Other Costs" section to list items that did not fit in the number of lines allotted for another section. If youneed more lines for a specific section, summarize the information in the IMLS Budget Form and explain itfurther in the Budget Justification.

8. Total Direct Costs: These amounts will total automatically.

9. Indirect Costs: Indirect costs are the same as "overhead" or "administrative costs." They are coststhat are incurred for common or joint objectives and cannot be easily identified with a particular project.Examples are charges for utilities, general insurance, use of office space and equipment that you own,local telephone service, and the salaries of the management and administrative personnel of theorganization. Before completing this section of the IMLS Budget Form, please consult the Notice of FundingOpportunity for the program to which you are applying for any special guidance regarding indirect costs.Click here for more information about Indirect Cost Options.

10. Total Project Costs: These amounts will total automatically.

IMLS Budget Form:

Adobe® PDF (212KB)

Cost Share

Cost share is that portion of the project costs that is not charged to IMLS funds. These costs may besupported by your cash outlays; contribution of property and services; and in-kind contributions, such asstaff or volunteer time that support project activities. Cost share requirements may vary by project orprogram. For more information regarding cost sharing, refer to specific Notice of Funding Opportunity forthe grant program to which you are applying.

All listed expenses, including cost sharing, must be incurred during the grant period unless otherwisespecified. Federal funds may not be used for cost sharing. All federal, agency, and program instructionsregarding use of funds apply to both requested IMLS funds and cost sharing.

Budget Justification

Use the Budget Justification to explain all the costs included in your IMLS Budget Form. Address thepurpose for each expense and explain the basis or method of cost computation used to determine eachdollar amount. Itemize and explain any costs that you consolidated and summarized in the IMLS BudgetForm. Follow the format of the IMLS Budget Form’s section headings.

We encourage you to contribute as cost share the salaries of permanent staff to be employed on a projectin proportion to the amount of time they will spend on the project. If you are requesting IMLS funding for

Instructions for Completing Budget Documents

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salaries of permanent staff, explain the reason for the request and how the regular duties of theseindividuals will be performed during the grant period. Explain the role of any outside consultants and thirdparty vendors to be employed on the project and how each was identified and selected. Document costsfor third party service providers through bids or similar means.

List the cost of project activities to be undertaken by a third party under "Contracts and Subawards" on theIMLS Budget Form as a single line item that shows the amount that will be charged to IMLS grant fundsand the cost sharing that will be provided by the third party. Include a complete itemization of these costsas part of the Budget Justification. If there is more than one contractor or subrecipient, list the costs of eachcontract or subaward separately on the IMLS Budget Form and include an itemization as part of the BudgetJustification. Click here for guidance for writing a budget justification.

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Project Staff and Consultant Documents

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Project Staff and Consultant Documents

List of Key Project Staff and Consultants

Provide a one-page list of the staff, consultants, and service providers whose expertise is essential to thecompletion of the project. Do not list the entire staff involved in the project. This list must include the ProjectDirector listed in Item 7 of the SF-424S.

Resumes of Key Project Staff and Consultants

Provide resumes of no more than two pages each for all project staff, consultants, and service providersidentified on the List of Key Project Staff and Consultants described above.

If you cannot identify key project personnel by the application deadline, then submit position descriptionsinstead. A position description does not identify a specific individual; it identifies the qualities and range ofexperience and education necessary to successfully implement and complete project activities.

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Proof of Nonprofit Status

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Proof of Nonprofit Status

If your organization is a private, nonprofit institution, you must submit a copy of the IRS letter indicating youreligibility for nonprofit status under the applicable provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, asamended. We will not accept a letter of State sales tax exemption as proof of nonprofit status.

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Evaluating Your Project

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Evaluating Your Project

Your proposed plan for tracking and measuring your success in achieving your intended results is asignificant element in the review process. You should include specific and sufficient resources dedicated toevaluation activities in your detailed work plan, project budget, and schedule of completion. Examples ofrelevant costs associated with evaluation include payments for consultants or qualified project staff,development of effective instruments, information collection, and analysis of project data. Include the costsof evaluation, reporting, and sharing project results in your project budget. You may budget any of these asgrant funds or as cost share. Keep in mind that effective evaluation strategies often use multiple techniquesnot just to measure and analyze final project outputs and outcomes but also to inform and help shape yourproject design as the project progresses.

Your evaluation plan should

clearly link the performance goal(s) stated in your proposal and the outcomes you intend to measureto the program/project you are proposing,identify the primary beneficiaries (people or organizations) of the project and the methodology forcollecting outcome information from them (if applicable)explain how things will be different as a consequence of this project and what data you will collect todetermine whether or not these changes occurredindicate the methods you will use to analyze your data and to judge the overall effectiveness of theprojectdescribe the qualifications of staff and consultants involved in evaluation activities,include all plans you have to monitor the project’s effectiveness on an ongoing basis so that youcan make needed midcourse correctionsdescribe how you intend to use the evaluation results and how they may affect long-term programplanningdescribe how you will share the evaluation results with people and organizations outside yourorganization

Your proposal narrative should address as many of these points as possible. If you do not have all thisinformation at the time you submit your application, your proposal should explain how you will obtain it if theproject is funded by IMLS.

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Getting a D-U-N-S® Number

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Getting a D-U-N-S® Number

All non-Federal entities are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (D-U-N-S®) Number in order to apply for, receive, and report on a Federal award.

You should verify that your organization has a D-U-N-S® Number. If you find you do not, you can acquireone at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free D-U-N-S® Number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or byvisiting www.dnb.com/get-a-duns-number/html.

Be sure that the D-U-N-S® Number is the same as the number you use in the System for AwardManagement (SAM) as part of Grants.gov registration.

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SAM Registration

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SAM Registration

The System for Award Management (SAM) is a federal repository that centralizes information about grantapplicants and recipients. You must be registered with SAM.gov before registering with Grants.gov. Clickhere to find information about registering with SAM.gov.

Registration cannot be completed in a single day. Once you have completely and accurately entered all ofthe information into SAM, it will take an average of 7-10 business days for processing to be completed.Some information must be validated by outside parties before your registration can be activated. Thisincludes TIN validation with the IRS and CAGE validation/assignment with Department of Defense. Theactivation timeframe may be longer if the information you provide is flagged for manual validation by anyparty. You will receive an email alerting you when your registration is active.

You must renew and revalidate your registration in SAM.gov at least every 12 months from the date youlast certified and submitted the registration in SAM--and sooner, if your information changes. An expiredregistration will affect your ability to receive awards or payments, submit applications via Grants.gov, orreceive certain payments from some federal government agencies.

Please note that grant payments will be made to the bank account that is associated with your SAM.govregistration.

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Partnerships

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Partnerships

Many IMLS-funded projects involve collaboration. The successful completion of project activities oftenrequires organizations to work together. These partnerships or collaborations can take many forms, bothinformal and formal. Sometimes partners provide cost share toward a project; sometimes the granteeprovides federal grant funds to a partner. Below are some frequently asked questions about partnershipswithin IMLS grants.

In projects that involve partnerships, what are the responsibilities of the leadapplicant and its partners?

The lead applicant organization in a project that involves one or more partners is the grantee. It is legallyresponsible for the use of all grant funds and for ensuring that the project is carried out by the partner(s) inaccordance with the terms of the grant and all applicable federal laws, regulations, and requirements. Thegrantee must be the fiscal agent but may provide federal grant funds to its partners for specific activities orservices. Each partner is legally responsible for carrying out the activities that it agrees to perform and forcomplying with the terms of the grant and all applicable federal laws, regulations, and requirements.

We encourage the lead applicant to include a letter of commitment from each partner, detailing the activitiesthat the partner plans to perform and indicating that the partner agrees to comply with the terms of the grantand all applicable federal laws, regulations, and requirements. Letters of commitment should be signed by aperson authorized to sign on behalf of the partner organization.

New government-wide grants regulations, 2CFR Chapter II Part 200 – Uniform AdministrativeRequirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, provide new rules forsituations where federal funds are provided by the grantee to its partner, whether through a contract or asubaward. Click here to find these regulations. These regulations are anticipated to become effective forIMLS awards that are made after December 26, 2014.

Are partnerships with federal agencies permitted?

You may partner with federal agencies when appropriate. However, no IMLS grant funds may be providedto the federal agency partner. In addition, it is important to remember that federally appropriated funds,whether they are disbursed directly to you by a federal agency or indirectly through another organization, donot count toward your cost share. Click here for more information about cost share.

Are international partnerships permitted?

While we do not make grants to non-U.S. entities, such entities may partner with eligible U.S. organizationson IMLS-funded projects, subject to applicable law. Applicants and grantees must ensure that the non-U.S.entities are not on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS), which has been incorporated into SAM.gov, orotherwise not eligible to receive federal funds. Click here to view the Excluded Parties List System.

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Partnerships

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Acknowledgement of IMLS support

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Acknowledgement of IMLS Support

What are the requirements for acknowledging work done with IMLS grant funding?

We require acknowledgement of IMLS assistance in all publications and other products resulting from theproject, such as research reports, websites, and presentations. All work products should reference IMLSand include the associated grant award numbers. Grant recipients will receive further instructions on how toacknowledge IMLS support and tips on how to share information about their projects.

Sharing IMLS-Supported Work Products and Copyright

How is information shared about IMLS projects and for what purposes?

We encourage creators of works resulting from IMLS funding to share their work whenever possible throughforums such as institutional or discipline-based repositories, open-access journals, or other media. Widedissemination of the results of IMLS-funded projects advances the body of knowledge and professionalpractice in museum, library, and information services.

We require that your final report include one copy of each product you create, unless otherwise instructed.We may share grant applications, products, and reports with grantees, potential grantees, and the generalpublic to further the mission of the agency and the development of museum, library, and informationservices. These materials may be disseminated and made available in a variety of ways and formats,including online.

What do I need to know about copyright and works produced with IMLS support?

You may copyright any work that is subject to copyright and was developed under an award or for whichownership was purchased. However, we reserve, for Federal government purposes, a royalty-free,worldwide, nonexclusive, and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use the work andauthorize others to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use the work.

All work products resulting from IMLS funding should be distributed for free or at cost unless we have givenyou written approval for another arrangement. We expect you to ensure that final peer-reviewedmanuscripts resulting from research conducted under an award are made available in a manner that permitsthe public to access, read, download, and analyze the work without charge.

What do I need to know about digital assets produced with IMLS support?

IMLS is committed to expanding public access to IMLS-funded assets, including research data and otherdigital products: the assets you create with IMLS funding require careful stewardship to protect andenhance their value. They should be freely and readily available for use and re-use by libraries, archives,museums and the public. Applying these principles to the development of digital products is notstraightforward; because technology is dynamic and because we do not want to inhibit innovation, the IMLSdoes not want to prescribe set standards and best practices that would certainly become quickly outdated.Instead, IMLS defines the digital assets your projects should achieve in a series of questions; your answersare used by IMLS staff and by expert peer reviewers to evaluate your proposal; and they will play a criticalrole in determining whether your grant will be funded. Together, your answers will comprise the basis for awork plan for your project, as they will address all the major components of the development process. Seethe Digital Stewardship Supplementary Information Form for more information.

Data sharing is an essential component of research and expedites the translation of research results into

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Acknowledgement of IMLS support

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new knowledge and practices. If your project involves the collection and analysis of data, we expect you toinclude, as part of your application, a data management plan (Part III of the Digital StewardshipSupplementary Information Form) that provides for long-term preservation and access. We expect you todeposit data resulting from IMLS-funded research in a broadly accessible repository that allows the public touse the data without charge no later than the date upon which you submit your final report to IMLS. Thedata should be deposited in a machine-readable, non-proprietary digital format to maximize search,retrieval, and analysis.

Your project budget may include the costs of preparing the data for public release and for making the datapublicly available. In your final report to IMLS, you will be required to identify where your data have beendeposited and can be accessed by the public

We recognize that data sharing may be complicated or limited in some cases by institutional policies; localInstitutional Review Board (IRB) rules; and local, state, and federal laws and regulations, including thoseprotecting confidentiality and personal privacy. The rights and privacy of people who participate in IMLS-supported research must be protected at all times. Thus, data intended for broader use should be free ofanything that could lead to disclosure of the identity of individual participants. You should identify andexplain the reasons for any limitations in your data management plan.

For the purposes of this section, “data” is defined consistent with OMB guidance (please see 2 CFR200.315). We reserve a royalty-free, worldwide, nonexclusive, and irrevocable right to: (1) obtain,reproduce, publish or otherwise use the data first produced under a grant; and (2) authorize others toreceive, reproduce, publish, or otherwise use such data for Federal purposes.

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Grant Details

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Sparks! Ignition Grants For MuseumsApplication:The Notice of Funding Opportunity (Grant Program Guidelines) for the current fiscal year is now available:

Access FY 2015 Notice of Funding Opportunity Online

Read more about Sparks! Ignition Grants on the IMLS website

Deadline: December 01, 2014Grant Amount: $10,000 to $25,000

Grant Period: Up to one year

Cost Share Requirement: No cost share requirements.

Program Overview:The Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums program is a special funding opportunity within the IMLSNational Leadership Grants for Museums program. These small grants encourage museums to prototypeand evaluate specific innovations in the ways they operate and the services they provide. Project results –be they success, failure, or a combination thereof – should offer valuable information to the museum fieldand the potential for improvement in the ways museums serve their communities.

Eligibility:Museums that fulfill the general criteria for museums may apply. Public or private nonprofit agencies,organizations, or associations that engage in activities designed to advance museums and the museumprofession may also apply. In addition, institutions of higher education, including public and non-profituniversities, are eligible.

Webinars:Learn more about museum grant programs by participating in IMLS webinars. Click here for instructions.

1. A general presentation on IMLS museum grants. We recommend that you view this presentationbefore participating in a program-specific webinar.

2. FY15 Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums program webinar

Program Contacts:

Helen WechslerSupervisory Grants Management Specialisthwechsler@imls.gov202-653-4779

Jill Connors-JoynerMuseum Program Specialistjconnors-joyner@imls.gov202-653-4791

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Grant Details

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Conflict of Interest Requirements

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Conflict of Interest Requirements

What Conflict of Interest requirements must I follow?

As a non-Federal entity, you must follow IMLS conflict of interest policies for Federal awards. You mustdisclose in writing any potential conflict of interest to an IMLS Program Officer, or to the pass-through entityif you are a subrecipient or contractor. This disclosure must take place immediately whether you are anapplicant or have an active IMLS award.

The IMLS conflict of interest policies apply to subawards as well as contracts, and are as follows:

1. As a non-Federal entity, you must maintain written standards of conduct covering conflicts ofinterest and governing the performance of your employees engaged in the selection, award, andadministration of subawards and contracts.

2. None of your employees may participate in the selection, award, or administration of a subaward orcontract supported by a Federal award if he or she has a real or apparent conflict of interest. Such aconflict of interest would arise when the employee, officer, or agent, any member of his or herimmediate family, his or her partner, or an organization which employs or is about to employ any ofthe parties indicated herein, has a financial or other interest in or a tangible personal benefit from anorganization considered for a subaward or contract. The officers, employees, and agents of the non-Federal entity must neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value fromsubrecipients or contractors or parties to subawards or contracts.

3. If you have a parent, affiliate, or subsidiary organization that is not a State, local government, orIndian tribe, you must also maintain written standards of conduct covering organizational conflicts ofinterest. Organizational conflicts of interest means that because of relationships with a parentcompany, affiliate, or subsidiary organization, you are unable or appear to be unable to be impartialin conducting a subaward or procurement action involving a related organization.

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